Hammock.



Patented Apr. I6, |90l. M. D. HUFF.

HAmMoK.. A

(Applicationled Oct. 3, 1900.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

No. 672,228. Patented Apr. I6, IQIBI.

M. D. HUFF.

HAMMOCK.

. (Appxictin med occ. '3, woo.; (No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

fue nonm crans cq., mammuov, msnmaroulp. a.I

irren raras MALIOIII D. I-IUFF, OF OARTIIAGE, ILLINOIS.

HAWIWICK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent` No. 672,228, dated April 16, 1901.

Application filed October 3, 1900. Serial No. 31,901. (No model.)

To cir/ZZ ZIJ/1,0m t may concern:

Beit known that I, MALICHI D. HUFF, a citizen of the United States, residing at Carthage, in the county of Hancock and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Hammock, of which the followingis a specification.

This invention relates to hammocks, and has for its object to provide an improved device of this character which is arrangedso as to be supported upon a single post, tree, wall, or similar support and to swing laterally in opposite directions and in substantially the same plane. It is furthermore de signed to arrange for conveniently removing the hammock from one support and applying the same to another support, so that it may be readily changed from one place to another to suit the occupant thereof.

With these and other objects in view the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, .as will be hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings,and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes in the form, proportion, size, and minor details may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a hammock constructed in accordance with the present invention and supported upon a single tree. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view thereof. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view of a modified hinged or pivotal connection between the hammock and the support thereof.

Corresponding parts are designated by like characters of reference in all of the figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the present form of hammock colnprises a frame formed by the opposite longitudinal side bars 1 and 2, which are connected at the foot end of the frame by means of a crossbar 3, that is let into the upper edges of the side bars and iush with said upper edges. The opposite ends of the side bars are connected by a similar cross-bar4,which is located inwardly from the extremities of the bars. Over this frame is stretched a suitable covering 5, of canvas or other-'suitable material,

which is tacked or otherwise secured to the side bars and the cross-bars, so as to form the body of the hammock.

Located in advance of the foot of the hammock is a metallic cup or socket 6, which is connected to the adjacent cross-bar by means of an integral stem or shank 7 andthe opposite brace-bars 8, which have their rear ends connected to the inner faces of the opposit-e side-bars 1 and 2 and their forward ends connected to the stem or shank adjacent to the cup or socket. This cup or socket is designed to loosely bear against a rounded stud or ball 9, which is provided with an attaching-stem 10 for connection with an upright support, such as a post, the wall of a building, or, as shown in the drawings,a single tree. The free end of the hammock is connected to the upright support by means of a cable-brace 1l, which has its upper end provided with a ring or eye l2, that is loosely engaged with a suitable hook or the like 13, driven into the tree or support at a suitable distance above the rounded stud or ball and in vertical alinement therewith.

The connection between the lower end of the brace-cable and the head or free end of the hammock is had by means of the opposite arms la, which are located at the outer sides of the respective side bars 1 and 2 and are piv# otally connected to suitable pivot-pins formed by the opposite ends of a rod 15, which eX- tends between the two side bars and is located adjacent to the outer side of the adjacent cross-bar 4L. rllhese arms are furthermore provided with a plurality of corresponding perforations 16 for the reception of a transverse rod 17, each end of which projects at the outer side of the respective arms, so as to form a pin 18 for engagement with the adjacent terminal hook 19 of a yoke 20, which has its intermediate portion connected to the lower end of the swinging brace-cable by means of the interhooked eyes 2l and 22 or in any other suitable mann er. It will now be observed that the ends of the head cross-bar i project at opposite sides of the frame, so as to form stops for engagement with the respective arms, and thereby hold the same in upright positions when the hammock is in use. When the hammock is not in use, the arms may be disconnected from the yoke and swung IOO downwardly and against the under side of the hammock, so as to be folded out of the way.

To prevent the foot end of the hammock from dropping downwardly should the cup become disengaged from the ball or rounded stud, there is provided a hanger therefor comprising an intermediate upright rod 23, which has a loop or yoke 24 swiveled to the lower end thereof and another yoke 25 fitted to the screw-threaded upper end of the rod, so as to be adjustable longitudinally thereon, the intermediate portion of the rod having a cross-head 26 to form a handle whereby the rod may be turned to adjust the upper yoke. The lower yoke is designed to embrace the cup or socket and fits loosely in a circumferential groove 27, formed exteriorly of the stem and at the base of the cup, while the upper yoke is loosely engaged with a hook 2S or other suitable device driven into the upright support and in vertical alinement with the ball or rounded stud.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the hammock has a hinged or balland-socket connection between its foot and the support and also a swinging brace connection between its free head or outer end and upper portion of the support, whereby the hammock may swing laterally upon the hinged support as a center and also swing substantially in the same plane. Should the hammock swing far enough to strike against the support and displace the cup from the ball, the hanger will prevent the foot from dropping downand will maintain the cup in its proper position, so that upon the return swing said cup will again engage the ball without requiring any manual adjustment thereof. It will of course be understood that duplicate balls or rounded studs and suspending-hooks or the like may be placed upon diiferent supports in order that a single hammock may be removed from one support and conveniently tted to another.

Should it be desired to have the hammock permanently located, I may employ the form of hinged connection as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The fixed member 29 is in the form of a plate or strap, having suitable perforations for the reception of fastenings to secure the hinge to a support. A ball cup or socket 30 is provided at the upper end of the plate or strap and is also offset or projected entirely upon the front or outer side of the member. The movable member of the hinge comprises a xed strap or part 3l, which is secured to the under side of the adjacent cross-bar 3 of the hammock, and a movable part or plate 32, which has a vertically-breakable hinged connection 33 with the Xed strap or part. The plate 32 rests upon suitable antifriction-balls 34, which are seated in the ball-cup 30, and a suitable pivot-pin 35, preferably in the form of a bolt, passes through the center of the plate and the bottom of the cup, so as to pivotally or hingedly connect the movable member to the fixed member in order that the former may swing in a horizontal direction. By having the movable member of the hinge composed of pivotallyconnected parts the outer or free end of the hammock may be adjusted vertically, as is also the case with the original form of hinge. In this modified h-inge no hanger is required, as the parts are positively connected, and therefore cannot come apart.

What is claimed isl. The combination with a support, of a hammock, having a horizontally-swinging hinged connection with the support, and also carrying a brace having a loose or swinging connection with the support, the outer end of the hammock being unrestricted and free to swing horizontally.

2. The combination with a support, of a hammock, a horizontally and vertically swinging hinged connection between the foot of the hammock and the support, and a brace having a loose or swinging connection with the support, and a longitudinally-adjustable connection with the outer end of the hammock, said outer end being unrestricted and free to swing horizontally in opposite directions.

3. The combination with a support, of a hammock, having a ball-and-socket connection between the foot thereof and the support, and a swinging brace connection between the hammock and the upper portion of the support.

4. The combination with a support, of a hammock, having a ball-and-socket connection between the foot thereof and the sup'- IOO port, a hanger pendent from the support and connected to the socket, and a swinging brace connection between the hammock and the support.

5. The combination with a support, of a hammock, having a ball-and-socket connection between the foot thereof and the support,a longitudinally-adj ustable hanger pendent from the support and connected to the socket, and a swinging brace connection between the hammock and the upper portion of the support.

6. The combination with a support, of a hammock, having a ball-and-socket connection between the foot thereof and the support, a hanger pendent from the support and connected to the foot of the hammock, and a swinging brace connection between the hammock and the support.

7. The combination with a support, of a hammock, having a ball-and-socket connection between the foot thereof and the support, a hanger pendent from the support and connected to the foot of the hammock, and comprising a rod having one end screw-threaded,

,a yoke swiveled to one end of the rod, and another yoke tted to the screw-threaded portion of the rod, and a swinging brace connection between the hammock and the support.

8. The combination with a support, of a hammock, having a hinged connection be- IIO tween the foot thereof and the support, opposite upstanding arms at the outer free end of the hammock, a swinging brace loosely connected to the support, and a yoke carried by the free end of the brace, and having opposite terminal fastenings secured to the respective arms.

9. The combination with a support, of a hammock, having a vertically and horizontally swinging hinged connection between the foot thereof and the support, and a verticallyadjustable swinging brace connection between the outer end of the hammock and the upper portion of the support, the outer end of the hammock being unrestricted and free to swing horizontally in opposite directions.

lO. The combination with a support, of a hammock, having a hinged connection between the foot thereof and the support, upright arms at the outer free end of the hammock and. provided with a plurality of corresponding perforations, a removable rod received Within a pair of the corresponding perforations and having its opposite ends projecting beyond the arms, a yoke having opposite terminal hooks removably engaged with the respective projecting ends of the rod, and a swinging brace connection between the yoke and the support.

1l. The combination with a support, of a hammock, comprising opposite side bars, a foot cross-bar, a head cross-bar located in wardly from the adjacent ends of the side bars,a hammock-body secured to the frame, a hinged connection between the foot of the frame and the support, opposite arms pivotally connected to the outer sides of the respective side bars and rising therefrom, the opposite ends of the head cross-bar projecting at opposite sides of the frame and forming stops in engagement with the adjacent edges of the respective arms, and a swinging brace connection between the arms and the upper portion of the support.

In testimony that I claim he foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

MALICI-II D. HUFF.

Witnesses:

GEORGE H. CALLILIAN, JOHN RANKIN NEWTON. 

